"But did he have rhythm?" Madman Films has revealed the first look trailer for an acclaimed documentary film titled Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat, made by Belgian filmmaker Johan Grimonprez. This film is an entrancing look back at a major moment in global politics during the Cold War, intertwining music history & pop culture with these events. Jazz & decolonization are entwined in this historical rollercoaster that led musicians Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach to crash the Un Security Council in protest against the murder of Patrice Lumumba. After Lumumba was murdered in 1961, the US State Department swings into action by sending jazz ambassador Louis Armstrong to Congo to deflect attention from the CIA-backed coup in the country. The doc features excerpts from My Country, Africa by Andrée Blouin (narrated by Marie Daulne aka Zap Mama), Congo Inc. by In Koli Jean Bofane, To Katanga & Back by Conor Cruise O’Brien (narrated...
- 5/5/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane is partnering, through his Seth MacFarlane Foundation, with Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation to fund the first-ever, curated restoration of historically significant animated shorts from the 1920s to 1940s.
MacFarlane is committed to saving and honoring the art form from its earliest days forward. He’s been fascinated by animation since childhood when he began drawing. He’s also an animation alum of Rhode Island School of Design. This year MacFarlane’s The Family Guy is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
“I’m so grateful to Seth MacFarlane for his enthusiasm and his support on these restorations,” said Martin Scorsese in a statement. “What an astonishing experience, to see these remarkable pictures that I experienced for the first time as a child brought back to their full glory. Imagine the reactions of children today! Because the films now seem as fresh as they did when they were newly made.
MacFarlane is committed to saving and honoring the art form from its earliest days forward. He’s been fascinated by animation since childhood when he began drawing. He’s also an animation alum of Rhode Island School of Design. This year MacFarlane’s The Family Guy is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
“I’m so grateful to Seth MacFarlane for his enthusiasm and his support on these restorations,” said Martin Scorsese in a statement. “What an astonishing experience, to see these remarkable pictures that I experienced for the first time as a child brought back to their full glory. Imagine the reactions of children today! Because the films now seem as fresh as they did when they were newly made.
- 4/17/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
There are a lot of iconic video game soundtracks, but none are quite as magical as Fallout’s. There’s a strange alchemy to the way the franchise pairs its ultra-violent combat and desolate, post-apocalyptic setting with wistful mid-century ditties. The music isn’t a mere accompaniment to the gameplay; it’s the beating heart of the series and has made the games so enduring and beloved they’ve spawned an Amazon Prime TV show. In other words, without its licensed soundtrack, Fallout wouldn’t be the phenomenon it’s become.
The franchise’s musical identity has taken over 27 years to develop and evolve, but the ‘50s post-war sentiment of blissful optimism quivering under the looming threat of nuclear war that is felt throughout the series was established in the first game.
Most of the music in Interplay’s Fallout and Fallout 2 is a haunting, ambient soundscape composed by Mark Morgan...
The franchise’s musical identity has taken over 27 years to develop and evolve, but the ‘50s post-war sentiment of blissful optimism quivering under the looming threat of nuclear war that is felt throughout the series was established in the first game.
Most of the music in Interplay’s Fallout and Fallout 2 is a haunting, ambient soundscape composed by Mark Morgan...
- 4/8/2024
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
Juxtaposing the story of the murder of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba with a musical tour of jazzman Louis Armstrong and with the expansion of the United Nations after the independence of many African countries in the 1960s might be tall order. Trickier still would be telling this complex story, full of many characters and plot swerves, in a nonlinear manner while filling the screen with written clues providing context like a bibliography of an academic thesis. Writer and director Johan Grimonprez sets himself a difficult task with “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat,” yet accomplishes it with astonishing success. The film plays like both a dense historical text and a lively jazz concert while proving itself to be an invigorating piece of documentary filmmaking.
Touching on far more than the decolonization of Africa, Grimonprez’s ambitious essay film encompasses the political and historical upheavals the world over — including the alleged involvement...
Touching on far more than the decolonization of Africa, Grimonprez’s ambitious essay film encompasses the political and historical upheavals the world over — including the alleged involvement...
- 3/11/2024
- by Murtada Elfadl
- Variety Film + TV
Louis Armstrong arrived in the Congolese capital, Leopoldville (now known as Kinshasa), on October 28, 1960, armed with his trumpet and wiping sweat from his brow. His visit was part of a U.S. State Department-sponsored tour of Africa, an arrangement Armstrong felt ambivalent about. Still, the Congolese people gave Satchmo, as the American jazz trumpeter was known, a near royal welcome. Drummers and dancers carried him to his performance venue on a red chair, fashioned like a throne. Civilians cheered him on. Ten thousand people showed up to watch him play.
This was a momentous occasion, a storied event for the newly independent republic of the Congo. Four months before Armstrong came to play jazz, the country had freed itself from the colonial grip of Belgium to become one of the more than dozen postcolonial African nations formed in 1960. But the region was still plagued with problems, most of them stemming...
This was a momentous occasion, a storied event for the newly independent republic of the Congo. Four months before Armstrong came to play jazz, the country had freed itself from the colonial grip of Belgium to become one of the more than dozen postcolonial African nations formed in 1960. But the region was still plagued with problems, most of them stemming...
- 3/1/2024
- by Lovia Gyarkye
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The producers behind “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “Maestro” and more Oscar-nominated films sat down to break down their respective projects at Variety FYC Fest: The Producers. The conversations were moderated by Variety’s senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay and senior awards editor Clayton Davis.
‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Producer Daniel Lupi on Filming in Oklahoma, Striving for Authenticity
Producer Daniel Lupi became involved in “Killers of the Flower Moon” after the script was rewritten to center the relationship between Ernest (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Burkhart (Lily Gladstone), contrasting from the original version of the script where DiCaprio was playing FBI agent Tom White. Lupi said Martin Scorsese described the new version as a “who didn’t do it.”
“He wanted to go right into the emotional core of the story and not be Tom White coming in and saving the day,” Lupi said of...
‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Producer Daniel Lupi on Filming in Oklahoma, Striving for Authenticity
Producer Daniel Lupi became involved in “Killers of the Flower Moon” after the script was rewritten to center the relationship between Ernest (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Burkhart (Lily Gladstone), contrasting from the original version of the script where DiCaprio was playing FBI agent Tom White. Lupi said Martin Scorsese described the new version as a “who didn’t do it.”
“He wanted to go right into the emotional core of the story and not be Tom White coming in and saving the day,” Lupi said of...
- 2/16/2024
- by Caroline Brew and Jaden Thompson
- Variety Film + TV
Sundance Review: Soundtrack to a Coup d’État is a Vibrant, Complex, and Jazz-Infused Political Essay
It was Mark Twain who said, “History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes,” which is one way of approaching Belgian filmmaker and multimedia artist Johan Grimonprez’s sprawling, jazz-infused Soundtrack to a Coup d’État. The political essay revisits 1960, a turbulent year in global affairs: Patrice Lumumba rises to power in Congo just as the United States, through the CIA-backed Voice of America radio network, aims to soften America’s image aboard, sending jazz musicians Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, Dizzy Gillespie, Abbey Lincoln, and Max Roach to tour the world. The film positions the jazz musicians as a kind of political cabinet while Gillespie envisions his own run for the White House on TV talk shows back home. It proceeds with a rather kinetic, defiant tone in which the jazz, breaking news, citations, and quotes interrupt the historical footage a more standard documentary may have primarily focused on.
- 2/9/2024
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
Exclusive: Reno Wilson, best known for his roles on Good Girls and Mike & Molly, has signed with Buchwald for representation.
Wilson played Officer Carl McMillan on the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly alongside Melissa McCarthy and Billy Gardell. He also starred as Stan Hill on Good Girls opposite Christina Hendricks, Mae Whitman and Retta.
Most recently, Wilson played the series regular role of Detective Earl Brooker on the Paramount+ series Fatal Attraction. He also had a recurring role on Peacock’s Bel-Air.
Wilson made his television debut as Theo’s best friend, Howard, on The Cosby Show. He has since starred and guest-starred in dozens of television series, including Heist, Blind Justice, and Showtime’s The Hoop Life.
On the film side, Wilson portrayed jazz icon Louis Armstrong in the feature Bolden. Other credits include Tyson’s Run, Mighty Joe Young, Rough Draft and Fallen. He has also voiced the characters of Frenzy,...
Wilson played Officer Carl McMillan on the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly alongside Melissa McCarthy and Billy Gardell. He also starred as Stan Hill on Good Girls opposite Christina Hendricks, Mae Whitman and Retta.
Most recently, Wilson played the series regular role of Detective Earl Brooker on the Paramount+ series Fatal Attraction. He also had a recurring role on Peacock’s Bel-Air.
Wilson made his television debut as Theo’s best friend, Howard, on The Cosby Show. He has since starred and guest-starred in dozens of television series, including Heist, Blind Justice, and Showtime’s The Hoop Life.
On the film side, Wilson portrayed jazz icon Louis Armstrong in the feature Bolden. Other credits include Tyson’s Run, Mighty Joe Young, Rough Draft and Fallen. He has also voiced the characters of Frenzy,...
- 2/1/2024
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Belgians cut off my hands in the Congo,” Langston Hughes wrote in his poem “Negro.” “They lynch me now in Texas.” The year was 1922, and racial segregation was the norm in the United States. Anti-Black racism in the South was such a millstone that the U.S. Senate failed to pass an NAACP-sponsored anti-lynching bill in January of that year, a list of simple protections that was prevented from coming to a vote due to filibusters.
Hughes’s poem is one piece of ephemera that comprises the massive tapestry that is Soundtrack to a Coup d’État. Director Johan Grimonprez’s documentary is primarily focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo and its struggle for independence from Belgian colonialism, during which time our government was using Black jazz musicians to, in its diplomatic tango with the Soviet Union, paint a portrait of American liberalism as benevolent.
The documentary focuses on...
Hughes’s poem is one piece of ephemera that comprises the massive tapestry that is Soundtrack to a Coup d’État. Director Johan Grimonprez’s documentary is primarily focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo and its struggle for independence from Belgian colonialism, during which time our government was using Black jazz musicians to, in its diplomatic tango with the Soviet Union, paint a portrait of American liberalism as benevolent.
The documentary focuses on...
- 1/23/2024
- by Greg Nussen
- Slant Magazine
Premiering out of Sundance’s World Cinema Documentary Competition, the impressionistic essay film “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” refracts the plot against Patrice Lumumba through a kaleidoscopic lens. Cutting between historical footage of the Un General Assembly and home movies shot in liberation-era Congo, weaving in a diverse set of perspectives, and setting the pace to a non-stop rhythm of bebop, rumba and classic jazz, director Johan Grimonprez evokes the euphoria of post-colonial possibility and the heartbreak of the dashed hopes and violent reprisals that would ensue.
“At first, I wanted to explore the colonial legacy of my own country,” says the Belgium-born Grimonprez. “I was already mesmerized by the story of Andrée Blouin, who was an independence leader, an advisor to [Ghana president] Kwame Nkrumah and chief of protocol for [first Congolese prime minister] Patrice Lumumba, but who was almost written out of history. And as a filmmaker, I like to explore those intimate stories within a wider,...
“At first, I wanted to explore the colonial legacy of my own country,” says the Belgium-born Grimonprez. “I was already mesmerized by the story of Andrée Blouin, who was an independence leader, an advisor to [Ghana president] Kwame Nkrumah and chief of protocol for [first Congolese prime minister] Patrice Lumumba, but who was almost written out of history. And as a filmmaker, I like to explore those intimate stories within a wider,...
- 1/17/2024
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
Fox News’ latest insane conspiracy theory is that Taylor Swift is being used as a Pentagon “psyop” to swing young voters towards Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election. No, really.
Tuesday night’s (January 9th) episode of Jesse Watters Primetime aired a clip from what host Watters insinuated was a recent meeting between the Pentagon and NATO to discuss online misinformation: “Social influence can help encourage or promote behavior change,” said the woman presenting in the clip. “So, potentially as a peaceful information operation… I include Taylor Swift in here because she’s, you know, a fairly influential online person.”
“Yeah, that’s real,” Watters said after the clip ended. “Pentagon’s psyop unit pitched NATO on turning Taylor Swift into an asset.” As Newsweek points out, however, the clip was actually from a 2019 cyber security conference organized by NATO — before Swift even endorsed Biden in the 2020 election.
And while...
Tuesday night’s (January 9th) episode of Jesse Watters Primetime aired a clip from what host Watters insinuated was a recent meeting between the Pentagon and NATO to discuss online misinformation: “Social influence can help encourage or promote behavior change,” said the woman presenting in the clip. “So, potentially as a peaceful information operation… I include Taylor Swift in here because she’s, you know, a fairly influential online person.”
“Yeah, that’s real,” Watters said after the clip ended. “Pentagon’s psyop unit pitched NATO on turning Taylor Swift into an asset.” As Newsweek points out, however, the clip was actually from a 2019 cyber security conference organized by NATO — before Swift even endorsed Biden in the 2020 election.
And while...
- 1/10/2024
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Music
Maurice Hines, an actor, dancer and choreographer who starred with his brother Gregory Hines in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Cotton Club,” died Friday. He was 80.
Friends including Debbie Allen and John Manzari reported the news of his death.
Hines began studying tap dancing at 5 years old, making his Broadway debut in “The Girl in Pink Tights” in 1954. With an act modeled after the Nicholas Brothers, Maurice and his older brother Gregory, who died in 2003, began touring with their dancer father as Hines, Hines & Dad, appearing across the country and on several TV shows.
When Maurice Hines decided to go solo, he was cast as Nathan Detroit in a national tour of “Guys and Dolls,” then performed on Broadway in “Eubie!” On “Uptown…It’s Hot!” he worked as choreographer and performer, netting a Tony nomination for best actor in a musical.
Among the other shows he choreographed were “Harlem Suite,...
Friends including Debbie Allen and John Manzari reported the news of his death.
Hines began studying tap dancing at 5 years old, making his Broadway debut in “The Girl in Pink Tights” in 1954. With an act modeled after the Nicholas Brothers, Maurice and his older brother Gregory, who died in 2003, began touring with their dancer father as Hines, Hines & Dad, appearing across the country and on several TV shows.
When Maurice Hines decided to go solo, he was cast as Nathan Detroit in a national tour of “Guys and Dolls,” then performed on Broadway in “Eubie!” On “Uptown…It’s Hot!” he worked as choreographer and performer, netting a Tony nomination for best actor in a musical.
Among the other shows he choreographed were “Harlem Suite,...
- 12/30/2023
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
Maurice Hines, the Broadway dancer, choreographer and actor who famously showcased his skills alongside his late younger brother, Gregory Hines, in a Nicholas Brothers-like act featured in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Cotton Club, has died. He was 80.
Hines died Friday of natural causes at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, his cousin and rep, Richard Nurse, told The Hollywood Reporter. He lived there for a couple of years.
The elegant, Harlem-born Hines received a Tony Award nomination in 1986 for best actor in a musical for Uptown … It’s Hot and starred again on Broadway in 2006’s Hot Feet. He conceived, directed and choreographed both productions.
In his THR review of the 2019 documentary Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back, Frank Scheck wrote that the Hines brothers had a falling out and didn’t talk for 10 years “for reasons that Maurice refuses to discuss to this day. He provides no explanation in the film,...
Hines died Friday of natural causes at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, his cousin and rep, Richard Nurse, told The Hollywood Reporter. He lived there for a couple of years.
The elegant, Harlem-born Hines received a Tony Award nomination in 1986 for best actor in a musical for Uptown … It’s Hot and starred again on Broadway in 2006’s Hot Feet. He conceived, directed and choreographed both productions.
In his THR review of the 2019 documentary Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back, Frank Scheck wrote that the Hines brothers had a falling out and didn’t talk for 10 years “for reasons that Maurice refuses to discuss to this day. He provides no explanation in the film,...
- 12/30/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Several human rights organizations have called the war-caused levels of famine and illness in Yemen the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Why, then, is the suffering of the country and its people so rarely discussed in America?
Thomas Sadoski, the actor best known for starring as Don Keefer in Aaron Sorkin’s “The Newsroom,” has a few ideas about that.
“I became aware of what was going on in Yemen shortly after the most recent Civil War began back in 2014,” he says. “And as the humanitarian crisis continued to get worse and worse, I saw it move further and further towards back pages of the newspaper, if at all mentioned. There were only a small handful of journalists who were even talking about it — largely because a lot of people couldn’t get access. I, for whatever reason, was able to get that access.”
Sadoski is a founding ambassador of War Child USA,...
Thomas Sadoski, the actor best known for starring as Don Keefer in Aaron Sorkin’s “The Newsroom,” has a few ideas about that.
“I became aware of what was going on in Yemen shortly after the most recent Civil War began back in 2014,” he says. “And as the humanitarian crisis continued to get worse and worse, I saw it move further and further towards back pages of the newspaper, if at all mentioned. There were only a small handful of journalists who were even talking about it — largely because a lot of people couldn’t get access. I, for whatever reason, was able to get that access.”
Sadoski is a founding ambassador of War Child USA,...
- 12/21/2023
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
John Oates may be involved a contentious legal battle with his old bandmate, but that won’t stop him from spreading some cheer and raising awareness for a good cause with a new song, “Get Your Smile On.”
Oates said he wrote the breezy tune during the Covid-19 pandemic when he was searching for “any positive vibe I could up with.” He began sketching the song on GarageBand, but as it came together, he “decided to really produce the track the way I would have in a professional recording studio.
Oates said he wrote the breezy tune during the Covid-19 pandemic when he was searching for “any positive vibe I could up with.” He began sketching the song on GarageBand, but as it came together, he “decided to really produce the track the way I would have in a professional recording studio.
- 12/15/2023
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Can there be any lingering doubt about who truly holds the Queen of Christmas crown? Brenda Lee has returned to the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” 65 years after the song’s 1958 recording.
The chart-topper sees the singer once known as Little Miss Dynamite breaking at least several Billboard records, including the longest wait between a song’s release and reaching #1, and the longest span between an artist’s #1 hits. At 78, Lee becomes the oldest person to ever top the chart, a record previously held by Louis Armstrong, who was 62 when “Hello, Dolly” peaked in 1964.
Just 13 when she recorded what would become one of the most beloved and enduring holiday classics, Lee has been celebrating the song’s 65th anniversary with a flurry of activity: Last month she appeared in the song’s first-ever video, featuring cameos by country stars Tanya Tucker and...
The chart-topper sees the singer once known as Little Miss Dynamite breaking at least several Billboard records, including the longest wait between a song’s release and reaching #1, and the longest span between an artist’s #1 hits. At 78, Lee becomes the oldest person to ever top the chart, a record previously held by Louis Armstrong, who was 62 when “Hello, Dolly” peaked in 1964.
Just 13 when she recorded what would become one of the most beloved and enduring holiday classics, Lee has been celebrating the song’s 65th anniversary with a flurry of activity: Last month she appeared in the song’s first-ever video, featuring cameos by country stars Tanya Tucker and...
- 12/4/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Brenda Lee is making history!
The 78-year-old singer rocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her holiday classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” as of Monday (December 4).
This is the first time the song went to No. 1 on the chart, 65 years after its release. It’s also her third No. 1 hit, and her first since 1960.
Keep reading to find out more…For its 65th anniversary, the song received its first official video, featuring cameos from country stars Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood.
It’s now the third holiday No. 1 in Hot 100 history, and shatters the record for the longest wait from a song’s release to go No. 1.
Brenda Lee is now the oldest artist to ever top the chart, passing Louis Armstrong, who was 62 when “Hello, Dolly!” led in 1964. Congratulations!
Similarly, Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” is now at No. 4, Wham!’s “Last Christmas” is No. 5, Burl...
The 78-year-old singer rocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her holiday classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” as of Monday (December 4).
This is the first time the song went to No. 1 on the chart, 65 years after its release. It’s also her third No. 1 hit, and her first since 1960.
Keep reading to find out more…For its 65th anniversary, the song received its first official video, featuring cameos from country stars Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood.
It’s now the third holiday No. 1 in Hot 100 history, and shatters the record for the longest wait from a song’s release to go No. 1.
Brenda Lee is now the oldest artist to ever top the chart, passing Louis Armstrong, who was 62 when “Hello, Dolly!” led in 1964. Congratulations!
Similarly, Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” is now at No. 4, Wham!’s “Last Christmas” is No. 5, Burl...
- 12/4/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Yellowjackets star Samantha Hanratty said “I do” to husband Christian DeAnda over the weekend!
The 28-year-old actress married her post-production assistant husband on November 11 at Terra Mia Vineyards in Paso Robles, Calif. The couple met in 2020 after matching on the dating app, Bumble. They got engaged in 2021.
Now that their big day is over, they shared some touching details from it in an interview.
Read more about Samantha Hanratty and Christian DeAnda’s wedding…
Speaking to The Knot, Samantha, who is sober, explained that Christian recommended their venue after working at it before. It was love at first sight.
“I wasn’t sure I wanted to have my wedding at a vineyard, but the moment I saw the property, I knew it was the place,” she told the outlet. “I had three other venues to go view and I canceled them immediately.”
They invited 140 to celebrate their special day with them.
The 28-year-old actress married her post-production assistant husband on November 11 at Terra Mia Vineyards in Paso Robles, Calif. The couple met in 2020 after matching on the dating app, Bumble. They got engaged in 2021.
Now that their big day is over, they shared some touching details from it in an interview.
Read more about Samantha Hanratty and Christian DeAnda’s wedding…
Speaking to The Knot, Samantha, who is sober, explained that Christian recommended their venue after working at it before. It was love at first sight.
“I wasn’t sure I wanted to have my wedding at a vineyard, but the moment I saw the property, I knew it was the place,” she told the outlet. “I had three other venues to go view and I canceled them immediately.”
They invited 140 to celebrate their special day with them.
- 11/13/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Paul McCartney‘s daughter, Stella McCartney, has become a fashion designer who’s famous in her own right. She once named her favorite songs. One was a song from The Beatles’ The White Album and another was a Beatles cover. Interestingly, she discussed how music influences her as a fashion designer.
Stella McCartney praised a song from The Beatles’ ‘The White Album’ for being poetic
During a 2017 interview with the BBC, McCartney discussed her favorite songs of all time. They included Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Talking Heads’ “Road to Nowhere,” George Michael’s “Faith,” David Bowie’s “Starman,” The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows,” Phyllis Dillon’s cover of The Beatles’ “Something,” and Louis Armstrong’s “A Kiss to Build a Dream On.” Classic rock apparently means a lot to her!
The only Fab Four original she put on the list was The Beatles’ “Blackbird” from The White Album.
Stella McCartney praised a song from The Beatles’ ‘The White Album’ for being poetic
During a 2017 interview with the BBC, McCartney discussed her favorite songs of all time. They included Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Talking Heads’ “Road to Nowhere,” George Michael’s “Faith,” David Bowie’s “Starman,” The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows,” Phyllis Dillon’s cover of The Beatles’ “Something,” and Louis Armstrong’s “A Kiss to Build a Dream On.” Classic rock apparently means a lot to her!
The only Fab Four original she put on the list was The Beatles’ “Blackbird” from The White Album.
- 10/31/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Universal Music Publishing Group, Concord, and Abkco have sued an Amazon-backed artificial intelligence company over alleged copyright infringement of the three publishers’ songs, according to a lawsuit reviewed by Rolling Stone.
The companies have filed a suit against Anthropic, an AI startup company founded by four former OpenAI employees in 2021 that had just last month secured an investment from Amazon worth up to $4 billion.
According to the suit, filed on Wednesday in Tennessee, Anthropic and its AI assistant service Claude — reminiscent of chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT — allegedly infringed on...
The companies have filed a suit against Anthropic, an AI startup company founded by four former OpenAI employees in 2021 that had just last month secured an investment from Amazon worth up to $4 billion.
According to the suit, filed on Wednesday in Tennessee, Anthropic and its AI assistant service Claude — reminiscent of chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT — allegedly infringed on...
- 10/18/2023
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
Aryna Sabalenka says she wants to feature on Arthur Ashe Stadium in her upcoming fourth-round match at the 2023 US Open .
Sabalenka wasn't quite at her best in her first-round win, but has since gradually found her game, dropping just the five games in the second round and then allowed a powerless Clara Burel to win merely the two games in her most recent match .
The Belarusian dropped just the eight points behind serve, dictated the vast majority of points and never really allowed Burel to deploy her variety with any kind of success, utilising her time on the ball to great effect on the day.
Sabalenka has played each and every one of her three matches away from the main Arthur Ashe Stadium. She talked about hoping to be competing on that court in her next match.
"I mean, of course I have noticed that. Of course I would like to play on Ashe.
Sabalenka wasn't quite at her best in her first-round win, but has since gradually found her game, dropping just the five games in the second round and then allowed a powerless Clara Burel to win merely the two games in her most recent match .
The Belarusian dropped just the eight points behind serve, dictated the vast majority of points and never really allowed Burel to deploy her variety with any kind of success, utilising her time on the ball to great effect on the day.
Sabalenka has played each and every one of her three matches away from the main Arthur Ashe Stadium. She talked about hoping to be competing on that court in her next match.
"I mean, of course I have noticed that. Of course I would like to play on Ashe.
- 9/3/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Elena Rybakina admitted before the US Open that she's hoping to avoid late-night finishes, but she's facing that prospect on Friday with her match being last on the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Elena Rybakina was the latest victim of scheduling when she found herself wrapping up a match in Montreal at around 3 in the morning. It was a terrible experience for the Kazakhstani player who blasted the Wta about scheduling .
The late finish completely disrupted her sleep and rhythm, derailing what seemed like a promising week at the Wta 1000 event in Canada. Others backed up her comments, as we've seen the Tour enduring multiple scheduling controversies this year.
Much of that comes from event organizers being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Appease players or try to maximize profit? It's a tough one, though judging by how the US Open is handling it, the money seems to do most of the talking.
Elena Rybakina was the latest victim of scheduling when she found herself wrapping up a match in Montreal at around 3 in the morning. It was a terrible experience for the Kazakhstani player who blasted the Wta about scheduling .
The late finish completely disrupted her sleep and rhythm, derailing what seemed like a promising week at the Wta 1000 event in Canada. Others backed up her comments, as we've seen the Tour enduring multiple scheduling controversies this year.
Much of that comes from event organizers being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Appease players or try to maximize profit? It's a tough one, though judging by how the US Open is handling it, the money seems to do most of the talking.
- 9/1/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Alexander Zverev added his name to the list of players who smelled weed at the 2023 US Open , using humour to convey it.
Recreational use of 'weed' has been legal in New York since 2021, so it shouldn't surprise people that you can smell in the city. It's a rather strong scent that most people can identify pretty quickly, even if they have never consumed it.
Last year, Nick Kyrgios complained about it , explaining to the umpire that it was triggering his asthma. This year we've seen Maria Sakkari complain about it to the umpire even though after the match she didn't want to blame her loss on it.
Court No. 17 is the court where it happened, and there is a good explanation for it. The court sits adjacent to Corona Park, where many people like to relax. As Sakkari explained, sometimes it's food, sometimes it's cigarettes, and sometimes it's simply weed.
Recreational use of 'weed' has been legal in New York since 2021, so it shouldn't surprise people that you can smell in the city. It's a rather strong scent that most people can identify pretty quickly, even if they have never consumed it.
Last year, Nick Kyrgios complained about it , explaining to the umpire that it was triggering his asthma. This year we've seen Maria Sakkari complain about it to the umpire even though after the match she didn't want to blame her loss on it.
Court No. 17 is the court where it happened, and there is a good explanation for it. The court sits adjacent to Corona Park, where many people like to relax. As Sakkari explained, sometimes it's food, sometimes it's cigarettes, and sometimes it's simply weed.
- 8/31/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
Clarence Avant, the judicious manager, entrepreneur, facilitator and adviser who helped launch or guide the careers of Quincy Jones, Bill Withers and many others and came to be known as the “Black Godfather” of music and beyond, has died. He was 92.
Avant, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, according to a family statement released Monday.
Avant’s achievements were both public and behind the scenes, as a name in the credits, or a name behind the names. Born in a segregated hospital in North Carolina, he became a man of lasting and wide-ranging influence, in part by minding two pieces of advice from an early mentor, the music manager Joe Glaser: Never let on how much you know, and ask for as much money as possible, “without stuttering.”
“He exemplified a certain level of cool and street smarts...
Avant, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, according to a family statement released Monday.
Avant’s achievements were both public and behind the scenes, as a name in the credits, or a name behind the names. Born in a segregated hospital in North Carolina, he became a man of lasting and wide-ranging influence, in part by minding two pieces of advice from an early mentor, the music manager Joe Glaser: Never let on how much you know, and ask for as much money as possible, “without stuttering.”
“He exemplified a certain level of cool and street smarts...
- 8/15/2023
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
Major record labels including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Capitol have filed a copyright lawsuit against the Internet Archive and its founder Brewster Kahle over the “Great 78 Project,” an initiative aimed to preserve and provide free access to pre-1972 musical works from artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong.
In the suit filed Friday (August 11th), the labels claim that the project — which Internet Archive describes as a hub for “the preservation, research and discovery of 78rpm records” — violates copyright laws, and argues that by “transferring copies of those files to members of the public, Internet Archive has reproduced and distributed without authorization Plaintiffs’ protected sound recordings.”
The group of plaintiffs also includes Concord Bicycle Assets, Cmgi Recorded Music Assets, and Arista Music, who all own full or partial copyrights to some of the music in the collection, and allege the recordings were illegally distributed to...
In the suit filed Friday (August 11th), the labels claim that the project — which Internet Archive describes as a hub for “the preservation, research and discovery of 78rpm records” — violates copyright laws, and argues that by “transferring copies of those files to members of the public, Internet Archive has reproduced and distributed without authorization Plaintiffs’ protected sound recordings.”
The group of plaintiffs also includes Concord Bicycle Assets, Cmgi Recorded Music Assets, and Arista Music, who all own full or partial copyrights to some of the music in the collection, and allege the recordings were illegally distributed to...
- 8/14/2023
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Music
Clarence Avant, the music executive and film producer who was known unofficially as “The Godfather” of Black entertainment, died on Sunday in his Los Angeles home. He was 92.
“It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant,” a statement from his children, Nicole and Alexander, as well as his son-in-law Ted Sarandos read. “Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘the Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics and sports. Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.”
Avant began his music industry career in the 1950s as a manager of Teddy P’s Lounge in Newark, New Jersey. He would later go on...
“It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant,” a statement from his children, Nicole and Alexander, as well as his son-in-law Ted Sarandos read. “Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘the Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics and sports. Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.”
Avant began his music industry career in the 1950s as a manager of Teddy P’s Lounge in Newark, New Jersey. He would later go on...
- 8/14/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Clarence Avant, the veteran music and entertainment executive known as the “Black Godfather” who was hailed for his influence and guidance by Quincy Jones, Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg, Whitney Houston, and others, died at home in Los Angeles on Sunday. He was 92.
Avant’s death was announced Monday through a statement shared by his family. “It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant,” the statement read. “Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music,...
Avant’s death was announced Monday through a statement shared by his family. “It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant,” the statement read. “Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music,...
- 8/14/2023
- by Larisha Paul and Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Clarence Avant, the beloved recording industry insider whose work as an executive, label owner, dealmaker and mentor earned him the nickname the “Godfather of Black Music,” has died. He was 92.
Avant died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced in a statement. His death came 20 months after his wife of 54 years, philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, was shot and killed by an intruder in their Beverly Hills home in the early morning hours of Dec. 1, 2021.
Survivors include their daughter, Nicole Avant, a producer, former U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas and the wife of Netflix co-ceo and chief content officer Ted Sarandos, and their son, Alexander, a producer (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!) and talent rep.
“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come,” the Avant/Sarandos family said.
Avant died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced in a statement. His death came 20 months after his wife of 54 years, philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, was shot and killed by an intruder in their Beverly Hills home in the early morning hours of Dec. 1, 2021.
Survivors include their daughter, Nicole Avant, a producer, former U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas and the wife of Netflix co-ceo and chief content officer Ted Sarandos, and their son, Alexander, a producer (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!) and talent rep.
“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come,” the Avant/Sarandos family said.
- 8/14/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Capitol, and other record labels filed a copyright lawsuit on Friday against Internet Archive, founder Brewster Kahle, and others over the organization’s “Great 78 Project,” accusing them of behaving as an “illegal record store.” The suit lists 2,749 pre-1972 musical works available via Internet Archive by late artists, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Chuck Berry, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and Bing Crosby, among others.
The suit, which was filed in federal court and reviewed by Rolling Stone, claims the Internet Archive’s “Great 78 Project” — launched...
The suit, which was filed in federal court and reviewed by Rolling Stone, claims the Internet Archive’s “Great 78 Project” — launched...
- 8/12/2023
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, Showtime is releasing a new documentary streaming on Paramount+ on the late rapper Biz Markie, best known for his song “Just a Friend,” on Friday, Aug. 11. “All Up in the Biz” will show footage that’s never been seen before of Markie’s life, career, and some of the top names in the business. Known as the “The Clown Prince of Hip Hop,” music fans will see Markie like never before and be reminded of a true underdog tale. You can watch with a 30-Day Free Trial of Paramount Plus.
How to Watch 'All Up in the Biz' When: Friday, August 11, 2023 Where: Paramount Plus Stream: Watch with a 30-Day Free Trial of Paramount Plus. 30-Day Free Trial$5.99+ / month paramountplus.com
For a Limited Time, Get 1 Month of Paramount+ With Code: Lioness
About 'All Up in the Biz'
“All Up in the Biz...
How to Watch 'All Up in the Biz' When: Friday, August 11, 2023 Where: Paramount Plus Stream: Watch with a 30-Day Free Trial of Paramount Plus. 30-Day Free Trial$5.99+ / month paramountplus.com
For a Limited Time, Get 1 Month of Paramount+ With Code: Lioness
About 'All Up in the Biz'
“All Up in the Biz...
- 8/11/2023
- by Layne Gibbons
- The Streamable
A new documentary, All Up in the Biz, will examine the life of the late rapper, Biz Markie, who was known as the “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop” thanks to lighthearted songs like “Just a Friend.” A clip from the film, which premieres Aug. 11 on Showtime, focuses on Biz’s sense of humor.
In between shots of the rapper dunking on audience members and his friends with “your mother” and “you’re so bald” jokes, comedian Tracy Morgan, who was friends with Biz, explains the roots of the hip-hop artist’s comic sense.
In between shots of the rapper dunking on audience members and his friends with “your mother” and “you’re so bald” jokes, comedian Tracy Morgan, who was friends with Biz, explains the roots of the hip-hop artist’s comic sense.
- 8/3/2023
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Vanessa Williams has no intentions on reconstructing or repairing parts of her body.
“No, no, no, no, no, not yet,” the actress, 60, recently told Page Six Style when asked if she has any plans to get plastic surgery or fillers.
When it comes to cosmetic procedures, the “Dance With Me” star stops at “good Botox,” as she previously discussed her love of the wrinkle-reducing treatment last year.
“I don’t do fillers,” she told the outlet at the Broadway opening of The Cottage, adding that undergoing actual surgery is the “very last thing” she’d try.
Read More: Vanessa Williams Opens Up About Living Her Best Life At 60 And How She’s Giving Herself More Grace Than Ever Before
However, Williams is open to trying non-invasive treatments.
“The technology now for lifting, sculpting, tightening, is incredible,” she explained. “And there’s a machine for anything.
“I just got a microcurrent thing for your neck,...
“No, no, no, no, no, not yet,” the actress, 60, recently told Page Six Style when asked if she has any plans to get plastic surgery or fillers.
When it comes to cosmetic procedures, the “Dance With Me” star stops at “good Botox,” as she previously discussed her love of the wrinkle-reducing treatment last year.
“I don’t do fillers,” she told the outlet at the Broadway opening of The Cottage, adding that undergoing actual surgery is the “very last thing” she’d try.
Read More: Vanessa Williams Opens Up About Living Her Best Life At 60 And How She’s Giving Herself More Grace Than Ever Before
However, Williams is open to trying non-invasive treatments.
“The technology now for lifting, sculpting, tightening, is incredible,” she explained. “And there’s a machine for anything.
“I just got a microcurrent thing for your neck,...
- 8/1/2023
- by Melissa Romualdi
- ET Canada
The Usta has confirmed that this year's US Open will have Video Review Technology available for use, with up to five courts getting access.
The move to incorporate video review as part and parcel of officiating is expected to help chair umpires make conclusive decisions in settling disputed calls. It is another groundbreaking move by the US Open following on from 2020.
Back then, it eliminated almost all line judges in favor of Hawk-Eye Live in order to reduce the number of on-site staff and aid in curbing the spread of coronavirus, a move that has since set the trend in subsequent editions of the New York Slam. The Australian Open has since followed suit in using electronic line calling. The Usta's statement read:
Video Review Technology will be utilized for all Main Draw matches played on Arthur Ashe, Louis Armstrong, Grandstand, Court 5, and Court 7 as an officiating aid. The Chair...
The move to incorporate video review as part and parcel of officiating is expected to help chair umpires make conclusive decisions in settling disputed calls. It is another groundbreaking move by the US Open following on from 2020.
Back then, it eliminated almost all line judges in favor of Hawk-Eye Live in order to reduce the number of on-site staff and aid in curbing the spread of coronavirus, a move that has since set the trend in subsequent editions of the New York Slam. The Australian Open has since followed suit in using electronic line calling. The Usta's statement read:
Video Review Technology will be utilized for all Main Draw matches played on Arthur Ashe, Louis Armstrong, Grandstand, Court 5, and Court 7 as an officiating aid. The Chair...
- 7/27/2023
- Tennis-Infinity
The generational divide between Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga didn’t matter. The timeless crooner and pop superstar developed a friendship that transcended time, just like the best music tends to do. Bennett’s death at age 96 means we won’t see them team up again, but we’ll always have their two albums to listen to. Bennett and Gaga seemed like an unlikely duet, but their collaboration made for some memorable moments and Grammy success.
Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga won Grammys in 2014 and 2021
Born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, Bennett’s professional singing career began in the early 1950s. He was well-established and well-known when he and Lady Gaga first teamed up. The pairing helped introduce him to a new generation of music fans.
Bennett and Gaga performed their version of “Cheek to Cheek” (first made famous by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong) at the 2015 Grammy Awards ceremony. The duo...
Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga won Grammys in 2014 and 2021
Born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, Bennett’s professional singing career began in the early 1950s. He was well-established and well-known when he and Lady Gaga first teamed up. The pairing helped introduce him to a new generation of music fans.
Bennett and Gaga performed their version of “Cheek to Cheek” (first made famous by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong) at the 2015 Grammy Awards ceremony. The duo...
- 7/21/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Well after their deaths, the pop stars of an earlier era — the mid-20th century, to be precise — are receiving documentary treatment, such greats as Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin and Louis Armstrong among them. Artists of the baby boom, on the other hand, a generation of unprecedented size and many other firsts, are participating in the process, as they have been for decades.
The earliest documentary portraits of boomer musicians set the bar high with a fresh, self-reflexive power. D.A. Pennebaker’s 1967 Don’t Look Back traced Dylan’s ambivalent dance into and out of the spotlight, and in 1970 the Maysles brothers’ Gimme Shelter found the Rolling Stones facing darker complexities around the same push-pull. Today, films exploring pop artists’ life’s work, or at least certain aspects of it, are being made while they’re still engaged in it.
Two of the most captivating and poignant documentaries to hit...
The earliest documentary portraits of boomer musicians set the bar high with a fresh, self-reflexive power. D.A. Pennebaker’s 1967 Don’t Look Back traced Dylan’s ambivalent dance into and out of the spotlight, and in 1970 the Maysles brothers’ Gimme Shelter found the Rolling Stones facing darker complexities around the same push-pull. Today, films exploring pop artists’ life’s work, or at least certain aspects of it, are being made while they’re still engaged in it.
Two of the most captivating and poignant documentaries to hit...
- 7/13/2023
- by Sheri Linden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Tony Award nominee Vanessa Williams has joined the lead producing team for the Broadway-aimed A Wonderful World, a bio-musical about jazz icon Louis Armstrong starring James Monroe Iglehart.
Williams’ involvement comes as producers announce the full cast for the musical: In addition to the previously announced Iglehart as Armstrong, the principal cast of A Wonderful World will feature Ta’Rea Campbell as Lucille Wilson, Jennie Harney-Fleming as Lil Hardin, Brennyn Lark as Alpha Smith and Khalifa White as Daisy Parker.
Following Armstrong’s musical path from New Orleans to Chicago, A Wonderful World will premiere this year at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans (October 1-8) before moving to the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago (October 11-29). Producers plan to move the show to Broadway, although dates and other details have not been announced.
Williams’ involvement comes as producers announce the full cast for the musical: In addition to the previously announced Iglehart as Armstrong, the principal cast of A Wonderful World will feature Ta’Rea Campbell as Lucille Wilson, Jennie Harney-Fleming as Lil Hardin, Brennyn Lark as Alpha Smith and Khalifa White as Daisy Parker.
Following Armstrong’s musical path from New Orleans to Chicago, A Wonderful World will premiere this year at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans (October 1-8) before moving to the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago (October 11-29). Producers plan to move the show to Broadway, although dates and other details have not been announced.
- 7/12/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Only one of Louis Armstrong’s songs hit No. 1 in the United States. It stopped The Beatles‘ “Do You Want to Know a Secret” from becoming a No. 1 hit. Subsequently, Paul McCartney revealed he’s not a big fan of “Do You Want to Know a Secret.”
1 cover by Louis Armstrong outperformed The Beatles’ ‘Do You Want to Know a Secret’
Many of Armstrong’s songs were covers. For example, “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “La Vie en rose,” and “Dream a Little Dream of Me” were all initially by other artists. His hit “Hello, Dolly!” was originally from the Broadway musical of the same name.
The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits said the latter song topped the Billboard Hot 100. Jazz wasn’t huge in the 1960s, so it’s incredible that Armstrong’s “Hello, Dolly!” performed that well. In addition, the tune blocked The Beatles’ “Do You Want...
1 cover by Louis Armstrong outperformed The Beatles’ ‘Do You Want to Know a Secret’
Many of Armstrong’s songs were covers. For example, “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “La Vie en rose,” and “Dream a Little Dream of Me” were all initially by other artists. His hit “Hello, Dolly!” was originally from the Broadway musical of the same name.
The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits said the latter song topped the Billboard Hot 100. Jazz wasn’t huge in the 1960s, so it’s incredible that Armstrong’s “Hello, Dolly!” performed that well. In addition, the tune blocked The Beatles’ “Do You Want...
- 7/3/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Exclusive: After partnering with LeBron James on the 2018 HBO documentary Student Athlete, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Ms. Marvel) and Trish Dalton (Election Year) have reteamed for Reggae Girlz, a feature doc telling the untold story of the Jamaican women’s national football team and their inspirational journey, both on and off the field, to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Currently shooting in Jamaica, the new film hails from Red Bull Studios, Astronaut Films, Polygram Entertainment and Cedella Marley/Tuff Gong Collective, watching as the Jamaican women’s soccer team, also known as The Reggae Girlz, make a roaring entrance onto the international stage. After failing to qualify for the 2007 World Cup and the subsequent Olympic Games, the team was disbanded in 2008. But in 2014, Bob and Rita Marley’s eldest daughter, Cedella, made it her mission to resurrect The Reggae Girlz, since then helping to lead them to become the first Caribbean team,...
Currently shooting in Jamaica, the new film hails from Red Bull Studios, Astronaut Films, Polygram Entertainment and Cedella Marley/Tuff Gong Collective, watching as the Jamaican women’s soccer team, also known as The Reggae Girlz, make a roaring entrance onto the international stage. After failing to qualify for the 2007 World Cup and the subsequent Olympic Games, the team was disbanded in 2008. But in 2014, Bob and Rita Marley’s eldest daughter, Cedella, made it her mission to resurrect The Reggae Girlz, since then helping to lead them to become the first Caribbean team,...
- 6/29/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Boldness defines Numa Perrier’s soapy romantic comedy The Perfect Find. Characters make unbelievable decisions in the name of love. Grand proclamations are yelled from across parks and outside apartment buildings. Everyone’s dressed in the most maximalist attire: loud prints, geometrically striking jewelry, intense hairstyles. It all seems rather unbelievable until you remember the ridiculousness is part of the fun.
Like any good romantic comedy, The Perfect Find constructs a world into which you can escape. Jenna (Gabrielle Union) is a 40-something (the ambiguity of her age is significant to the plot) fashion editor who has spent the last year recovering from a devastating public breakup. Her 10-year relationship with Brian (D.B. Woodside), an equally ambitious careerist, crashed profoundly after Jenna sought clarity about their future. To escape the tabloid frenzy, Jenna moves back in with her parents.
Perrier economically reviews this backstory in the film’s opening credits,...
Like any good romantic comedy, The Perfect Find constructs a world into which you can escape. Jenna (Gabrielle Union) is a 40-something (the ambiguity of her age is significant to the plot) fashion editor who has spent the last year recovering from a devastating public breakup. Her 10-year relationship with Brian (D.B. Woodside), an equally ambitious careerist, crashed profoundly after Jenna sought clarity about their future. To escape the tabloid frenzy, Jenna moves back in with her parents.
Perrier economically reviews this backstory in the film’s opening credits,...
- 6/22/2023
- by Lovia Gyarkye
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘The Perfect Find’ Review: Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers Charm in Fashion-Forward Netflix Swooner
Fashionista Jenna Jones (Gabrielle Union) took quite the tumble from her position in New York’s world of style. In “The Perfect Find” — Netflix’s visually vibrant, cinema-loving, if not quite perfect, rom-com — her professional and romantic plummet is documented in opening credits that cleverly use an animated collage to relate her story.
So, when we meet Jenna in person ,she’s without a job, and her man (D.B. Woodside) of 10 years has moved on … or so it seems. The 40-year-old is sporting baggy sweats, and not because she’s headed to the gym. She’s been living in her parents’ home licking her wounds, for a year, when her mother calls her out on it. The scene between mother (Janet Hubert) and grown-ass daughter is amusing and promising. As are the musical and visual choices director Numa Perrier makes that evoke Old Hollywood in a film with characters decidedly not Old Hollywood.
So, when we meet Jenna in person ,she’s without a job, and her man (D.B. Woodside) of 10 years has moved on … or so it seems. The 40-year-old is sporting baggy sweats, and not because she’s headed to the gym. She’s been living in her parents’ home licking her wounds, for a year, when her mother calls her out on it. The scene between mother (Janet Hubert) and grown-ass daughter is amusing and promising. As are the musical and visual choices director Numa Perrier makes that evoke Old Hollywood in a film with characters decidedly not Old Hollywood.
- 6/20/2023
- by Lisa Kennedy
- Variety Film + TV
A consortium of music publishers on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against Twitter, claiming the social media platform has repeatedly violated copyright law by hosting music without permission and failing to police infringers.
The suit was filed in federal court in Nashville by the trade group National Music Publishers’ Association on behalf of 17 music publishing companies including Universal, Polygram, BMG, Sony, Emi, Concord and Warner Chappell. It alleges Twitter willfully infringed the work of about 1,700 songs.
Among the songs and artists mentioned as examples in the lawsuit were Louis Armstrong’s What a World, Glass Animals’ Heat Waves and Rihanna’s Umbrella.
The suit, formally against Twitter parent X Corp, seeks up to $150,000 for each case on infringement as well as additional damages among its claims for direct copyright infringement, contributory infringement and vicarious infringement. It is seeking a jury trial.
Twitter is among the last of the major social media...
The suit was filed in federal court in Nashville by the trade group National Music Publishers’ Association on behalf of 17 music publishing companies including Universal, Polygram, BMG, Sony, Emi, Concord and Warner Chappell. It alleges Twitter willfully infringed the work of about 1,700 songs.
Among the songs and artists mentioned as examples in the lawsuit were Louis Armstrong’s What a World, Glass Animals’ Heat Waves and Rihanna’s Umbrella.
The suit, formally against Twitter parent X Corp, seeks up to $150,000 for each case on infringement as well as additional damages among its claims for direct copyright infringement, contributory infringement and vicarious infringement. It is seeking a jury trial.
Twitter is among the last of the major social media...
- 6/14/2023
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Polygram Entertainment, the film and television division of Universal Music Group, has announced that Daniel Inkeles will become the new senior vice president of film and television development and production.
Prior to his promotion, Inkeles was the vice president of scripted film and television for Umg. In that role he served as executive producer of NBC’s musical comedy “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.” During the series’ two-season run, it was nominated for seven Emmys, winning one for Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming. Inkeles was also an executive producer for Alison Ellwood’s Critics Choice-winning documentary “The Go-Go’s,” which centered around the American rock band of the same name, as well as the 2019 film, “Billie,” James Erskine’s documentary about Billie Holiday.
Inkeles is based in Los Angeles and will report to David Blackman, the executive vice president and head of film and television development and production for Umg.
Also Read:
‘Louis Armstrong...
Prior to his promotion, Inkeles was the vice president of scripted film and television for Umg. In that role he served as executive producer of NBC’s musical comedy “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.” During the series’ two-season run, it was nominated for seven Emmys, winning one for Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming. Inkeles was also an executive producer for Alison Ellwood’s Critics Choice-winning documentary “The Go-Go’s,” which centered around the American rock band of the same name, as well as the 2019 film, “Billie,” James Erskine’s documentary about Billie Holiday.
Inkeles is based in Los Angeles and will report to David Blackman, the executive vice president and head of film and television development and production for Umg.
Also Read:
‘Louis Armstrong...
- 6/1/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Remember “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles”? No, not the opening sequence of “The Last Crusade” starring River Phoenix as a teenage version of Harrison Ford’s iconic archeologist. We’re talking about the short-lived ’90s series starring Sean Patrick Flanery as the title character. The two-season curiosity has been mostly left behind in its decade, but now Disney has acknowledged it — and is putting it on Disney+, no less.
The news was announced out of The Walt Disney Company’s Upfronts Presentation on Tuesday afternoon. The show will be available to stream on Disney+ starting May 31, in anticipation of the release of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” in theaters next month. In addition, all four of the initial “Indiana Jones” movies — “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “The Temple of Doom,” “The Last Crusade,” and “The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” — will also be added to the streamer, after...
The news was announced out of The Walt Disney Company’s Upfronts Presentation on Tuesday afternoon. The show will be available to stream on Disney+ starting May 31, in anticipation of the release of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” in theaters next month. In addition, all four of the initial “Indiana Jones” movies — “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “The Temple of Doom,” “The Last Crusade,” and “The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” — will also be added to the streamer, after...
- 5/16/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
“American Idol” Season 21 is coming to an end Sunday, May 21 with Colin Stough, Iam Tongi and Megan Danielle battling it out to join the esteemed list of previous winners. After surviving auditions, Hollywood Week and the Final Judgement, judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie chose them as part of the Top 26.
Since then, America has voted by the millions to keep these three in the competition. They’ve participated in theme weeks including “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night,” “Judge’s Song Contest,” “Alanis Morissette/Ed Sheeran Night” and “Disney Night” to reach this moment. So, who do You want to win it all? Vote in our poll below.
See ‘American Idol’ outrage! Fans say Wé Ani was robbed of spot in finale [Poll Results]
Colin Stough
Hometown: Amory, Ms
Occupation: Hvac Technician
Age: 19
Hollywood Showstopper: “Cold” by Chris Stapleton
Top 26: “Midnight Train to Memphis” by The SteelDrivers...
Since then, America has voted by the millions to keep these three in the competition. They’ve participated in theme weeks including “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night,” “Judge’s Song Contest,” “Alanis Morissette/Ed Sheeran Night” and “Disney Night” to reach this moment. So, who do You want to win it all? Vote in our poll below.
See ‘American Idol’ outrage! Fans say Wé Ani was robbed of spot in finale [Poll Results]
Colin Stough
Hometown: Amory, Ms
Occupation: Hvac Technician
Age: 19
Hollywood Showstopper: “Cold” by Chris Stapleton
Top 26: “Midnight Train to Memphis” by The SteelDrivers...
- 5/16/2023
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
American Idol’s structure looks much different now than when the show first started. Once the competition show transitioned from Fox to ABC back in 2018, the new network also created a different format. The show now moves along much quicker than it ever used to. It sometimes feels like the show is racing through contestants, which begs the question: When is this season’s finale?
‘American Idol’ top 10 contestants on May 1, 2023 | Eric McCandless/ABC/Getty Images The ‘American Idol’ season finale will air at the end of May
Those who watch the show only have a few more weeks to take in this season’s incredible talent. The show’s finale will air on Sunday, May 21. Not much is known about the finale yet, but traditionally, a number of celebrities perform, as well as former contestants. Contestants who previously either won or made it far on the show typically return to sing,...
‘American Idol’ top 10 contestants on May 1, 2023 | Eric McCandless/ABC/Getty Images The ‘American Idol’ season finale will air at the end of May
Those who watch the show only have a few more weeks to take in this season’s incredible talent. The show’s finale will air on Sunday, May 21. Not much is known about the finale yet, but traditionally, a number of celebrities perform, as well as former contestants. Contestants who previously either won or made it far on the show typically return to sing,...
- 5/2/2023
- by Julia Mullaney
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tonight on “American Idol,” the “Judge’s Song Contest” returns as Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie each suggest songs for the contestants to choose from. America votes for the Top 7 Live coast to coast. Will your favorites make the cut? Emmy Award winner Ryan Seacrest hosts the reality TV competition series for the show’s sixth season on ABC and 21st overall.
Follow along with our updating live blog on Monday, May 1 (8:00 p.m. Et/5:00 p.m. Pt) as we react to the Top 10 performances and reveal who will perform in the Top 7 on Sunday, May 7.
See Everything to know about ‘American Idol’ Season 21: Finalists, judges and celebrity mentors
8:00 p.m. — Previously on “American Idol”! The Top 12 performed for “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night.” Lucy Love and Nutsa were eliminated at the end of the episode. Who will stand out tonight as...
Follow along with our updating live blog on Monday, May 1 (8:00 p.m. Et/5:00 p.m. Pt) as we react to the Top 10 performances and reveal who will perform in the Top 7 on Sunday, May 7.
See Everything to know about ‘American Idol’ Season 21: Finalists, judges and celebrity mentors
8:00 p.m. — Previously on “American Idol”! The Top 12 performed for “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night.” Lucy Love and Nutsa were eliminated at the end of the episode. Who will stand out tonight as...
- 5/2/2023
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
Little Richard always told it the way it was, and coined the phrase “Shut up!” to emphasize his impact. When he inducted Otis Redding into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in between note-perfect impressions of his fellow Macon, Ga.-born soul singing friend, Little Richard paused to ask how come no one was recording him. He still looked good, he obviously sounded great, and the “Architect of Rock and Roll” wasn’t even doing his own songs, but those of a singer he loved, respected, and inspired in equal measure. Little Richard was the guy who sang “you keep a-knocking but you can’t come in.” Why weren’t record companies breaking down his doors?
Director Lisa Cortés’ Little Richard: I Am Everything demands answers and explores deeper questions. The documentary shows Little Richard Wayne Penniman’s journey to be a complex one. Entertaining, yes, but engaging...
Director Lisa Cortés’ Little Richard: I Am Everything demands answers and explores deeper questions. The documentary shows Little Richard Wayne Penniman’s journey to be a complex one. Entertaining, yes, but engaging...
- 4/26/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Bob Dylan has been performing for decades, and he once switched up his style to emulate another musician. He has likely perfected his onstage demeanor after years of touring virtually ceaselessly. Still, he greatly admired the other musician. Dylan found the other artist impressive onstage, but he said that the performing style did not go over well for him.
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns Bob Dylan said there were a number of musicians he admired
Dylan said that he gets strong emotional reactions while listening to music.
“A great song is the sum of all things,” he told The Wall Street Journal (via his official website). “It could be the turning point in your life. Louis Armstrong does it like a scat singer, Jimmie Rodgers can yodel it. It’s timeless and ageless. It’s a field holler, it’s blood and thunder, it’s on easy street and in...
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns Bob Dylan said there were a number of musicians he admired
Dylan said that he gets strong emotional reactions while listening to music.
“A great song is the sum of all things,” he told The Wall Street Journal (via his official website). “It could be the turning point in your life. Louis Armstrong does it like a scat singer, Jimmie Rodgers can yodel it. It’s timeless and ageless. It’s a field holler, it’s blood and thunder, it’s on easy street and in...
- 4/5/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
After the release of “Thirteen Lives,” Amazon is apparently hoping to stay in business with Imagine Entertainment. Amazon Studios has inked a new, multiyear first-look film deal with Imagine Entertainment, the production company co-founded and chaired by Ron Howard and Brian Glazer, it was announced Friday.
Under the terms of this new deal, Amazon Studios will have first look dibs on the narrative and documentary features Imagine Entertainment produces, and the first opportunity to secure distribution rights for the production company’s projects.
Last year, Amazon distributed two projects from Imagine Entertainment through Prime Video: “Thirteen Lives,” which was directed by Howard, and the documentary “Lucy and Desi,” from Amy Poehler. Next month, Amazon will release Imagine’s documentary “Judy Blume Forever,” and is set to distribute future Imagine projects like “Candy Cane Lane” starring Eddie Murphy and a spy action-comedy “The U.S.P.S.”
“Whether it’s a...
Under the terms of this new deal, Amazon Studios will have first look dibs on the narrative and documentary features Imagine Entertainment produces, and the first opportunity to secure distribution rights for the production company’s projects.
Last year, Amazon distributed two projects from Imagine Entertainment through Prime Video: “Thirteen Lives,” which was directed by Howard, and the documentary “Lucy and Desi,” from Amy Poehler. Next month, Amazon will release Imagine’s documentary “Judy Blume Forever,” and is set to distribute future Imagine projects like “Candy Cane Lane” starring Eddie Murphy and a spy action-comedy “The U.S.P.S.”
“Whether it’s a...
- 3/31/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Chlöe Bailey’s anticipated solo debut, In Pieces, follows nearly two years of delays, a handful of failed singles and, perhaps worryingly, a duet with controversial singer Chris Brown in the form of “How Does It Feel.” It’s that last detail that rankles R&b fans who have spent over a decade trying to cancel the scandal-scarred Virginia artist, only to see him celebrated as a prime influence in the genre’s post-90s peak and remain a firmly persistent presence on radio stations nationwide.
Ultimately, what makes In...
Ultimately, what makes In...
- 3/31/2023
- by Mosi Reeves
- Rollingstone.com
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